Independent Sector Announces New Estimate for Value of Volunteer Time

(Washington, D.C., April 13, 2010)-Independent Sector announces that the 2009 estimate for the value of a volunteer hour has reached $20.85, an increase from $20.25 per hour in
2008.

The release of this important figure comes just before National Volunteer Week, which takes place April 18 - 24, 2010. This year Independent Sector and Points of Light Institute
are partnering to celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things to improve communities across the nation.

"America's heritage of giving back is unique and distinctive. Whether we help a single individual or ignite change that benefits millions, people in this country have come together
through voluntary organizations for over 230 years. Children who grow up learning to give back not only strengthen their communities but enrich their own lives in countless ways.
We celebrate that spirit of selfless service," said Diana Aviv, President and CEO of Independent Sector.

"We are also celebrating and commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the Volunteer Generation Fund and the 40th anniversary of Earth
Day," said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute and Co-Founder HandsOn Network. "At a time when polarization too often paralyses Washington, it is important to
remember that significant change in our nation has always been sparked and fueled by citizens, grassroots movements and our independent sector," she adds.

The valuation of volunteer time provides one way to measure the impact millions of individuals make with each hour they dedicate to make a difference. More than a third of
nonprofit organizations surveyed reported increasing their use of volunteers between September 2008 and March 2009 and almost half expect to use more volunteers in the coming
year.

Nonprofits employ approximately 12.9 million workers - almost 10 percent of the American work force - and account for about 5 percent of GDP. In 2008, volunteer labor produced
an estimated 6.8 million full-time equivalent employees, increasing total charitable impact by more than 50 percent. About 61.8 million Americans, or 26.4 percent of the adult
population gave 8 billion hours of volunteer service worth $162 billion in 2008; estimates for 2009 will be released this summer.

Every other year, IS also calculates a value for each volunteer hour state by state and that information has just been updated as well. To access the numbers for every state
and learn more about the hourly value of volunteer time, visit www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time.

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Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 550 charities, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing tens of
thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and
philanthropic community. To learn more about Independent Sector, please visit: www.independentsector.org.

Points of Light Institute inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. The Institute has a global focus to redefine volunteerism and civic
engagement for the 21st century, putting people at the center of community problem solving. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas that help people
act upon their power to make a difference. Points of Light Institute operates three dynamic business units that share our mission: HandsOn Network, MissionFish and the
Civic Incubator. For more information, visit PointsofLight.org.